Review: 'Dear Dad' by Giselle Green (2016)

Three people longing to find love. Connected by one big lie. 
Handsome, 28-year old, Nate Hardman is a frontline reporter with a big problem. Suffering from shell-shock and unable to leave his house, he’s already lost his social life and his girlfriend. Now his career prospects are sinking fast. 
9 year-old Adam Boxley who lives alone with his ageing nan, also has big problems. Neglected at home and bullied at school, he’s desperate to reach out to his dad – and that’s when he sends his first letter to Nate. Only Nate’s not who he thinks he is. Will he help? More importantly – can he? 
Across town meanwhile, caring but impulsive teacher Jenna Tierney really wants to help Adam - except the feisty redhead has already had enough of teaching. Recently hurt by yet another cheating boyfriend, Jenna’s now set her sights on pursuing a dream career abroad ... only she’s about to meet Nate - her dream man who’ll make her re-think everything. 
The big question is; can three people desperate to find love, ever find happiness when they’re only connected by one big lie?
Since I started this book blog several years ago I've been approached by numerous authors, giving me the chance to read and review their work, which is still something I find quite amazing! In 2014 I was introduced to author Giselle Green's work when I was asked to review her novel 'Finding You' (click here to read my review). After that, I was definitely curious to check out more of Giselle's work, so I was excited when she contacted me about her latest book, 'Dear Dad.' The novel was released on March 31st by Yule Press and I was immediately intrigued by the description of the story. This promised to be quite a captivating women's fiction title and I couldn't wait to once again give some of Giselle's writing a chance!
Twenty-eight-year-old Nate Hardman used to love his job as a frontline reporter, but for quite some time now he has been suffering from panic attacks, resulting in him barely being able to leave his home by himself. After losing his girlfriend, friends, and now almost losing his job, Nate doesn't have much left. Until he receives a letter from nine-year-old Adam, who believes that Nate is his father. Adam is being bullied and has a difficult time at home taking care of his grandmother, so Nate feels he can't possibly just walk away, even though he is sure he is not Adam's real dad. Together with Adam's supply teacher, Jenna, Nate is determined to help the little boy. But the lies only seem to get bigger, and Nate doesn't dare to think what will happen if the truth comes out.
Giselle Green has done a great job with her latest novel 'Dear Dad' and I am really glad she gave me the chance to read and review it! The book has quite an original storyline, one I've personally never come across before, and this was something I straight away liked and that intrigued me. The book focuses on a man who is dealing with his own personal issues when he receives a letter from a small boy who believes he has found his real father. The story is told from two perspectives: Nate Hardman, the 'dad', and Jenna Tierney, who is the boy's supply teacher at school. Both Nate and Jenna had their own story to tell, next to the one revolving around the boy that brings them together, and this was something I really enjoyed, because there were a lot of elements to keep me interested and wanting to read on.
Giselle Green has a great writing style which is easy to read and includes enough attention to detail and dialogue. I have to admit I did feel as if the novel was a bit too long; it could have been a bit shorter and still just as strong, in my opinion. However, the book has strong in-depth characters and an original and interesting storyline and I'm really happy I was given the chance to discover this book! Overall, 'Dear Dad' is a heart-warming, touching and original read that I'd like to recommend to all women's fiction fans. A convincing and well-written read by author Giselle Green and I hope to be able to read more of her work in the future!

Rating:8,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'Finding You' by Giselle Green (2014)

Julia and Charlie are ecstatic to be reunited with their stolen child, Hadyn. A year after he was snatched from a beach in Spain during a family holiday, they had feared that he would never be found alive. 
Now the couple are eager for their lives to return to normal – but something is very wrong. Hadyn is still in many ways a ‘lost’ child. He seems to have been badly affected by the abduction, making it impossible for the family to simply pick up the pieces and move on.
In their efforts to unravel exactly what happened to their son and to find a cure, Julia and Charlie clash as to the best way forward. As their own insecurities surface, their relationship comes under threat - a situation not helped by the appearance of a former lover who is only too happy to rock the boat. 
As dark secrets are uncovered, the couple’s love for each other is tested to its very limits, and they begin to doubt that they will ever be able to help their troubled little boy...
Until, at last, they stumble across an unexpected truth. A truth that might be the only thing left that could save their family.
I have to admit I wasn’t familiar with Giselle Green ‘s work before she contacted me about possibly reviewing her latest novel, ‘Finding You.’ The e-book version was released on the 30th of March 2014 and the novel is a sequel to Giselle’s 2009 book ‘Little Miracles.’ The book can be read as a stand-alone, and the blurb had me fascinated. It made me think of the whole Madeleine McCann case, which I think everyone will still remember. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to discover your child is missing. I was interested to see how Giselle Green would deal with this topic in her novel, and I was glad with this chance to check out the work of a so far to me unfamiliar author!
Julia, Charlie and their young son Hadyn have been through a lot. After Hadyn disappeared on a summer’s day in Spain, Julia and Charlie’s lives were completely turned upside down. After a year of despair and hope, they managed to find Hadyn and they are now ready to pick up the pieces and go back to their normal life as a family. Yet, things aren’t that simple. Ever since they found Hadyn, he has been acting strange which is making it really difficult for all of them to move on. Next to that, Julia and Charlie are still keeping secrets from one another , which slowly leads to even more misunderstandings. Their bond as a family and their love for one another is tested in various ways, and the question is whether they will manage to stay together throughout it all. 
I wasn’t familiar with Giselle Green’s writing before I sat down with ‘Finding You’, but I was straight away taken in by her detailed and touching style of writing. The two main characters, Julia and Charlie, have been through a lot and their struggles and pain clearly come through in the writing. I thought the subject matter was really fascinating and the fact that the story is told from both Julia and Charlie’s perspectives shows their individual fears and troubles. I was keeping my fingers crossed for Julia, Charlie and Hadyn and really hoped everything would work out for them, especially after all the things they have been through together. 
Although enough information is given to be able to read this novel as a stand-alone, I personally think I would have enjoyed it more if I had been familiar with the entire background story. I didn’t really manage to get into the novel 100%, which was a shame. There was still a certain distance between me as a reader and the characters, and I somehow couldn’t get past that feeling. I think if I had already been familiar with Julia and Charlie, and the details of Hadyn’s disappearance, perhaps I would have been able to really get into the book as much as I had liked. Overall, ‘Finding You’ is an emotionally charged and in-depth family drama, but to new readers I’d recommend reading ‘Little Miracles’ first, so you can enjoy the entire story to the fullest. 

Rating:

7,0/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.